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Free Selection for Monday: Atlanta Braves + 145
Free Selection for Monday: Atlanta Braves + 145
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John Anthony Sports
Monday's Free Selection: Chicago Cubs - 170Comment
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GAME: Cleveland Indians (73-56) at New York Yankees (70-59)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 28 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Indians at Yankees
Gracenote
Aug 27, 2017
The New York Yankees are again creeping up on the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, but a tough week looms. The Yankees will begin a stretch of seven contests against first-place teams when they host the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.
New York needs to avoid looking ahead to a four-game showdown with Boston this weekend and did a fine job of taking care of business by taking two of three from the Seattle Mariners to pull to within 2 1/2 games of the Red Sox. "I think we’re playing good baseball," Yankees first baseman Chase Headley told Newsday. "You can’t really just rely on that. You have to go out and play the way that you’ve been playing. Obviously, we’ve got some good teams coming in here starting (Monday) and we have to play really well." New York piled up 16 runs in wins on Saturday and Sunday but could struggle to do the same against an Indians staff that just finished off three consecutive shutouts of the Kansas City Royals to spread its lead in the Central to 6 1/2 games. Cleveland will try to stretch the run of shutouts to four straight and the overall winning streak to five in a row when it sends ace Corey Kluber to the mound on Monday opposite Yankees ace Luis Severino.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, STO (Cleveland), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (12-4, 2.65 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Luis Severino (11-5, 3.10)
Kluber had a stretch of eight straight starts without a loss come to an end against Boston on Wednesday despite striking out 12 and allowing just two runs on four hits over 7 2/3 innings. The former Cy Young Award winner notched at least 11 strikeouts in six of his last eight turns and yielded more than three runs just once in his last 16 outings. Kluber had little trouble with New York on Aug. 3, when he struck out 11 and scattered one run and three hits in a complete-game victory.
Severino allowed one or zero earned runs in seven of his last eight starts and cruised through 6 2/3 innings while surrendering one run and six hits at Detroit on Wednesday. The Dominican Republic native was ripped for eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against Boston on Aug. 12, but assured fans that was just an outlier by yielding one earned run over 13 innings in his last two starts. Severino earned a win at Cleveland on Aug. 6, striking out nine and allowing one run and two hits in 6 2/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees 2B Starlin Castro (hamstring) went 4-for-4 on Sunday and is 6-for-12 in three games since coming off the disabled list.
2. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor is 8-for-15 with three homers and six RBIs in the last four games.
3. New York 3B Todd Frazier is 0-for-14 with eight strikeouts in his last five games.
PREDICTION: Indians 3, Yankees 1Comment
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GAME: Miami Marlins (66-63) at Washington Nationals (78-51)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 28 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Marlins at Nationals
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2017
The Washington Nationals look to cool down Giancarlo Stanton and the Miami Marlins while maintaining a double-digit lead in the National League East when they host a three-game series between the division rivals that begins on Monday. Miami completed a three-game sweep against San Diego on Sunday to give it seven wins in eight contests and keep it 4 1/2 games behind Colorado for the second wild-card spot in the NL.
Stanton, who has gone deep 19 times in 52 career games at Nationals Park, went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs in Sunday's 6-2 triumph and is 10-for-15 with four blasts and nine RBIs over his last four contests. The 27-year-old Californian leads the major leagues with 50 home runs and 108 RBIs (tied with Nolan Arenado) - both career highs - and is the sixth player to reach the half-century mark in blasts before the end of August. The Marlins would love to sweep their second straight series and get within single digits of Washington, which owns a 12-game lead in the division after splitting Sunday's doubleheader - and the four-game series - against the New York Mets. The Nationals have not lost back-to-back contests since the beginning of the month, when they were outscored 14-6 in setbacks at Miami on Aug. 1 and 2.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Urena (12-5, 3.68 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (12-5, 2.25)
Urena attempts to complete the month with a perfect record after improving to 3-0 in four starts with a victory at Philadelphia on Tuesday in which he allowed three runs over five innings. The 25-year-old Dominican leads the team in wins and is 8-0 in 13 appearances (10 starts) on the road this season. Urena made his first career start versus Washington on July 31 and fell to 1-1 in seven career games against the club despite giving up just one run and three hits over eight frames.
Scherzer will return from a stint on the disabled list caused by neck inflammation and look to extend his unbeaten streak to 10 starts. The 33-year-old native of Missouri, who is a candidate to claim the third Cy Young Award of his career, will be facing the Marlins for the third time in his last four turns and hasn't lost since giving up two unearned runs and two hits at Miami on June 21. Scherzer, who is 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 13 career starts against the Marlins, leads the NL with 220 strikeouts after registering 13 double-digit performances.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals INF Adrian Sanchez missed Sunday's doubleheader as he spent the previous night in the hospital to monitor his breathing after he was hit in the chest by a pitch in Saturday's win over New York.
2. Stanton has hit 23 homers that have given Miami a lead this season, the most in the NL since Albert Pujols belted the same amount in 2006 while with St. Louis.
3. Washington recalled OF Rafael Bautista from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned RHP A.J. Cole to the Chiefs.
PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Marlins 1Comment
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GAME: Seattle Mariners (66-65) at Baltimore Orioles (65-65)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 28 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Mariners at Orioles
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2017
The Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles may be not be intimidating given their nearly identical records and matching minus-23 run differentials, but both teams very much are in the running for a wild-card spot in the wide-open American League. Two of the three teams within two games of the second wild card continue to jockey for position starting Monday, when the Mariners visit the Orioles for the opener of their three-game series.
The Orioles (65-65) are riding a four-game winning streak after completing a three-game sweep in Boston over the weekend, outscoring the AL East-leading Red Sox 25-4 in the process. Sunday's 2-1 triumph kept Baltimore two games behind Minnesota for the second wild-card berth. The Mariners (66-65) are one-half game ahead of the Orioles at the moment, but they are coming off a dismal outing in which they became the first major-league team in 40 years to commit five errors in one inning during Sunday's 10-1 loss to the New York Yankees. Seattle has fared well recently against Baltimore, however, winning two of three at home two weeks ago and eight of the last 10 overall meetings.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (0-1, 7.40 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Chris Tillman (1-7, 7.75)
Gonzales failed to make it through five innings for the fifth time in as many starts Tuesday at Atlanta, taking the loss after allowing two runs on six hits and three walks while throwing 99 pitches over 4 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old Gonzaga product has given up at least one home run in each of his five turns this season - including one with St. Louis - and is allowing opponents to bat .352 against him. Gonzales settled for a no-decision versus the Orioles on Aug. 16, when he permitted four runs over 4 1/3 frames.
Tillman did not factor in the decision in his return to the rotation on Aug. 20 versus the Los Angeles Angels after surrendering four runs and issuing a career high-tying six walks across 5 1/3 innings. The 2013 All-Star was coming off a pair of scoreless relief appearances - the first two of his career - but has logged an 8.00 ERA in his 16 turns this season. Robinson Cano (15-for-36) and Nelson Cruz (5-for-16) both have hit a pair of homers against Tillman, who is 7-1 with a 3.30 ERA in 11 career games (10 starts) versus Seattle.
WALK-OFFS
1. Since joining Seattle in 2015 after one season in Baltimore, Cruz has hit .392 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 51 at-bats against the Orioles.
2. Baltimore 2B Jonathan Schoop went 0-for-4 on Sunday to end a seven-game hitting streak during which he was batting .433.
3. Cano returned to the lineup Sunday after being limited to pinch-hitting duties in the previous two contests but was removed late because he wasn't running particularly well, according to Seattle MGR Scott Servais.
PREDICTION: Orioles 8, Mariners 7Comment
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GAME: Atlanta Braves (57-71) at Philadelphia Phillies (48-81)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 28 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Braves at Phillies
Gracenote
Aug 27, 2017
Rhys Hoskins continues making a tremendous impact in the opening month of his major league career for the Philadelphia Phillies, who open a three-game home series Monday against the Atlanta Braves. Hoskins, who became the fastest player to reach 10 homers in baseball’s modern era (17 games) on Saturday, slugged his 11th in Sunday’s 6-3 victory over the Cubs - his fifth consecutive game with a blast - and started a triple play in the fifth inning with a sliding catch in left field.
The Phillies look to continue dominating their National League East division rival this week, having defeated the Braves 11 times in 13 games this season and in all seven meetings in Philadelphia. The Braves were swept in a two-game series at home by the Phillies on Aug. 8-9, starting a stretch in which Atlanta has lost 12 of 18 contests - capped by Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Colorado. Braves third baseman Brandon Phillips moved within three hits of 2,000 for his career with a 2-for-4 performance Sunday, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Rookie second baseman Ozzie Albies pushed his hitting streak to eight games with a seventh-inning single.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), CSN Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Lucas Sims (2-3, 4.13 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (9-9, 3.58)
Sims has recorded back-to-back victories after losing his first three major-league starts, giving up only two runs and eight hits across 11 innings to defeat Colorado and Seattle. He was outstanding in his last start, holding the Mariners to three hits across six scoreless frames in a 4-0 victory on Tuesday. The 23-year-old has pitched at least five innings in each of his five starts, going six innings three times.
Nola looks to rebound after two consecutive tough starts, giving up 12 runs with five walks and 16 hits in 11 1/3 innings while losing to San Francisco and Miami. The back-to-back defeats ended a 10-start stretch during which Nola posted a 1.71 ERA while going 6-2 and issuing only 19 walks in 68 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old beat the Braves in his only appearance against them this season, and is 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in six career starts against Atlanta.
WALK-OFFS
1. Braves LF Matt Kemp has grounded into a major-league leading 23 double plays.
2. The Phillies have slugged homers in nine consecutive games and boast 25 blasts since Aug. 13, tied with the Chicago Cubs for most in the NL during that stretch.
3. Atlanta has not won a series since taking two-of-three from Miami at home on Aug. 4-6.
PREDICTION: Phillies 5, Braves 3Comment
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GAME: Boston Red Sox (73-57) at Toronto Blue Jays (61-69)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 28 - 7:07 PM EST
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Red Sox at Blue Jays
Gracenote
Aug 27, 2017
The Boston Red Sox matched their longest losing streak of the season and have seen their lead in the American League East trimmed to 2 1/2 games over the rival New York Yankees. The Red Sox will try to avoid a fifth straight setback when they open a seven-game road trip by visiting the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.
Boston was outscored 38-10 in its last four contests and managed just four runs while being swept in a three-game series at home by the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend. "This is where our team has performed at its best. When we are faced with adversity, we come together and rally around each other," Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters. "We have a good challenge ahead of us, but I've loved the way we have responded to challenges throughout the year." Boston, which has a four-game showdown looming at New York this weekend, will take on a Blue Jays squad that dropped seven of its last nine games and sits in last place in the AL East. The Blue Jays allowed a total of 22 runs in three games over the weekend and will try to stop the bleeding with righty Marcus Stroman, who opposes lefty Drew Pomeranz.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Sportsnet, TVA Sports (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Drew Pomeranz (13-4, 3.18 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (11-6, 3.17)
Pomeranz is still struggling to work deep into games but has not suffered a loss since June 11. The 28-year-old did not allow a run in either of his last two starts but totaled just 8 2/3 innings and has not completed seven frames since May 31 at the Chicago White Sox. Pomeranz nearly reached seven innings in a win over Toronto on July 19, when he allowed an unearned run on three hits and a season high-tying five walks in 6 2/3 frames.
Stroman owns one win in his last four starts and was roughed up at Tampa Bay on Wednesday, when he surrendered five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. That marked just the second time in 11 starts that the Duke product allowed more than three earned runs. Stroman was ripped for six runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings at home by Boston on April 18, but was better at the Red Sox on July 17 when he did not yield an earned run over 6 2/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox DH Hanley Ramirez is 1-for-15 in his last four starts.
2. The Toronto staff notched a season-high 17 strikeouts on Sunday.
3. Boston INF Eduardo Nunez is 8-for-43 in the last 10 games after hitting .384 in his first 16 games with the team.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 3Comment
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GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (63-68) at Chicago Cubs (69-60)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 28 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Pirates at Cubs
Gracenote
Aug 27, 2017
The Chicago Cubs’ record within the division has been a big reason for their two-game lead atop the National League Central. The Cubs hope to continue that trend when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game series starting Monday.
The Cubs are 30-22 against the NL Central - the best record in the division - and they play 24 of their final 33 contests against division foes. They stumbled at the end of a six-game road trip, though, dropping two of three to Philadelphia to go 3-3 against a pair of last-place teams on the trip. The Pirates took two of three from Cincinnati over the weekend for their first series win in nearly three weeks, but they are only seven games behind Chicago with seven head-to-head meetings over the next 10 contests. Pittsburgh is 7-5 against the Cubs this season.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (5-6, 4.40 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Mike Montgomery (4-6, 3.43)
Williams turned in one of his best starts yet Wednesday, tossing eight scoreless frames in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 25-year-old has posted two scoreless outings in his last four starts, but he hasn’t been able to do it consistently. Williams has made two starts and two relief appearances against the Cubs this season, going 1-1 with a 5.27 ERA.
Montgomery will make his second start in Jon Lester’s spot in the rotation after throwing six scoreless innings Wednesday against Cincinnati. The 28-year-old is working on a streak of 10 1/3 scoreless frames over his last two outings. Montgomery is making his first start against the Pirates, but he has a 2.70 ERA in five relief appearances versus Pittsburgh.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh OF Andrew McCutchen, who is two home runs shy of 200 in his career, is batting .303 with 22 homers in 143 games against the Cubs.
2. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo is 21-for-50 with four homers and 21 RBIs over his past 13 games.
3. Pirates 2B/OF Adam Frazier left Sunday’s game with right hamstring discomfort and will be re-examined Monday.
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Pirates 5Comment
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GAME: Tampa Bay Rays (65-67) at Kansas City Royals (64-65)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 28 - 8:15 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Rays at Royals
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2017
The Kansas City Royals must lick their wounds and end a lengthy drought when they return home to begin a three-game series against the surging Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. Kansas City was swept of a three-game weekend set at Cleveland without registering a run and has not scored in a franchise-record 34 consecutive innings while falling nine games back in the American League Central.
The only good news for Royals is they are just 2 ½ games back in the race for the AL’s second wild card and will visit Minnesota, which occupies the spot, after taking on Tampa Bay. Ian Kennedy will try to turn around his fortunes at home, where he is 0-6 with a 5.97 ERA in 12 starts, on Monday as he opposes Austin Pruitt, who is coming off two rough starts in a row. The Rays are three games behind Minnesota after winning five of their last seven, getting two homers from Logan Morrison on Sunday in a 3-2 victory over St. Louis to take their second straight series. All-Star Corey Dickerson has hit safely in six consecutive games for Tampa Bay, going 11-for-22 with three homers in that stretch.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), FSN Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Austin Pruitt (6-4, 5.76 ERA) vs. Royals RH Ian Kennedy (4-9, 5.09)
Pruitt has struggled in his last two starts, allowing 11 runs and 18 hits over 10 2/3 innings, after stringing together three solid outings. The 27-year-old Texan had given up six homers in his first 23 major-league appearances before surrendering four blasts in a no-decision against Toronto on Wednesday. Pruitt, who will be making his eighth career start, yielded three runs - one earned - and three hits in two frames of relief against the Royals on May 8.
Kennedy is winless in his last five starts after permitting three runs on seven hits and three walks across 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision against Colorado on Wednesday. The 32-year-old USC product was 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA during June and July but is 0-3 with a 7.99 mark in five starts this month. Brad Miller (3-for-5, one homer) and Morrison (6-for-16, two homers) have caused trouble for Kennedy, who is 1-4 with a 4.64 ERA lifetime versus Tampa Bay.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay CF Kevin Kiermaier recorded a pair of hits Sunday and is 13-for-40 with three homers and eight RBIs in nine games since returning from the disabled list.
2. Kansas City 1B Eric Hosmer has hit safely in seven straight contests despite his team’s slump, going 11-for-24 in that span.
3. The Rays have belted 18 homers in their last eight games after scoring all their runs in Sunday's win on blasts.
PREDICTION: Rays 6, Royals 3Comment
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GAME: Detroit Tigers (56-73) at Colorado Rockies (71-59)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 28 - 8:40 PM EST
WHERE: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Tigers at Rockies
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2017
Although the Colorado Rockies probably wouldn't mind forgetting most of August, they may be ending the month the same positive way they started it. After winning three of their final four during a six-game road trip, the Rockies return home Monday to begin a three-game interleague series against the fading Detroit Tigers.
Colorado, which won four of its first five in August before dropping 11 of its next 15, improved to 11-13 this month following Sunday's 3-0 victory in the rubber match of its three-game weekend set in Atlanta. The surge comes at a good time for the Rockies, who maintained their 3 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee for the second wild card in the National League and remained 1 1/2 behind Arizona for the top spot. Detroit won four straight to begin the month but has lost 16 of 21 since and finds itself only four games ahead of the American League-worst Chicago White Sox. The Tigers dropped their sixth consecutive series over the weekend and were dealt another blow when Victor Martinez was forced to go on the disabled list with an irregular heartbeat for the second time this season prior to Sunday's 7-1 loss to the White Sox.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, AT&T SportsNet - Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (7-11, 6.11 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Antonio Senzatela (10-4, 4.52)
Zimmermann became the first Tiger in 82 years to give up seven runs in three straight outings in a loss to the New York Yankees on Wednesday, surrendering nine hits and failing to strike out a batter in five innings. The two-time All-Star joined Tommy Bridges and Schoolboy Rowe (1935) as owners of the dubious honor and has allowed 27 hits across 13 2/3 frames over that span. Zimmermann has had the Rockies' number in 10 career starts against them, however, going 6-0 with a 2.48 ERA.
Senzatela, who has worked primarily out of the bullpen since the end of June, settled for a no-decision Wednesday in Kansas City after yielding two runs over five innings. The 22-year-old Venezuelan has yet to record a decision in August but has posted a 2.84 ERA this month after struggling in June (8.10) and July (6.00). Senzatela has given up 13 of his 18 homers in Colorado this season, although he will put his 8-2 home record on the line as he faces Detroit for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rockies went 4-for-24 with runners in scoring position in Atlanta and left 21 men on base, including nine in each of their last two contests.
2. Tigers 3B Nicholas Castellanos went 0-for-4 in his return to the lineup Sunday after sitting out the previous two games due to a sore left wrist suffered in Thursday's brawl versus the Yankees.
3. Colorado MGR Bud Black announced Sunday the team will "navigate" save situations for the time being. RHP Greg Holland, who has notched an NL-high 36 saves, has posted a 7.36 ERA since June 15 and served up four homers in his last seven appearances.
PREDICTION: Rockies 6, Tigers 3Comment
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GAME: Oakland Athletics (58-72) at Los Angeles Angels (66-65)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 28 - 10:07 PM EST
WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Athletics at Angels
Gracenote
Aug 27, 2017
The Oakland Athletics played the role of spoiler to perfection against one American League wild-card hopeful and attempt to do the same versus another as they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Monday for the opener of a three-game series. Oakland did some damage over the weekend to the playoff chances of Texas, which was outscored 19-7 while being swept in a three-game set and pushed three games behind Minnesota for the second wild card.
Two players that hope to continue swinging hot bats are rookie Matt Chapman, who went 6-for-11 with a homer and two RBIs in the series against the Rangers, and Marcus Semien, who has gone 3-for-7 with three RBIs and three runs scored over his last two games. Los Angeles trails the Twins by only 1 1/2 games despite having lost four of its last five contests. The Angels fell to 2-5 on their 10-game homestand after dropping a 7-5 decision to Houston on Sunday in which they rallied from a four-run deficit, only to squander a one-run lead in the eighth inning. Luis Valbuena, who belted his 100th career homer in the series finale against the Astros, has hit safely in seven of his last eight games to raise his season average from .191 to .208.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, NBCSN California (Oakland), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Daniel Gossett (3-6, 5.49 ERA) vs. Angels LH Andrew Heaney (0-0, 8.10)
Gossett returned from the minors and escaped with a no-decision at Baltimore on Wednesday after surrendering five runs and eight hits over five innings. The 24-year-old rookie from South Carolina is 2-0 in three road starts since losing at Seattle on July 9 and has recorded all three of his career victories away from home. Gossett, who will be facing Los Angeles for the first time, has issued at least one walk in all but two of his 11 major-league outings.
Heaney has struggled in his first two starts of the year but managed to avoid being tagged with losses. The 26-year-old Oklahoman has yielded nine runs and 15 hits over a pair of five-inning outings, registering nine strikeouts without issuing a walk. Heaney, who made just one start in 2016 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, also has had difficulty keeping the ball in the park as he served up four homers in his season debut on Aug. 18 at Baltimore before allowing three against Texas on Wednesday.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels DH Albert Pujols went 2-for-5 on Sunday to raise his career hits total to 2,937, breaking a tie with Barry Bonds for sole possession of 35th place on the all-time list.
2. Oakland 2B Jed Lowrie will be evaluated on Monday after leaving the series finale against Texas with a left shin contusion.
3. Los Angeles OF Mike Trout, who is in an 0-for-17 slump, has hit 24 home runs against Oakland - his highest career total versus any team in the majors.
PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Angels 4Comment
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GAME: San Francisco Giants (52-80) at San Diego Padres (57-73)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 28 - 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Petco Park, San Diego, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Giants at Padres
Gracenote
Aug 27, 2017
Life on the road has not been good to the San Francisco Giants, who have lost 13 of their last 16 games away from AT&T Park. The Giants look to get untracked Monday as they open a three-game series against the San Diego Padres, who are beginning an 11-game homestand.
After losing back-to-back one-run decisions to Arizona, the Giants were swept on Sunday when the Diamondbacks erupted for nine runs in the eighth inning and posted an 11-0 victory. Brandon Crawford, who was held out of the starting lineup due to mild hamstring tightness, saw his hitting streak end at 10 games after grounding out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth. The Padres were swept by Miami over the weekend and remain baffled by the play of Wil Myers, who went 0-for-4 in Sunday’s 6-2 loss and is batting .232 with 149 strikeouts. A key part of the team’s long-term rebuilding efforts, Myers has belted 24 home runs but struggled to regain his form from his All-Star 2016 season, when he hit .259 with 28 blasts and 98 RBIs.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco), FSN San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (8-12, 4.67 ERA) vs. Padres RH Jhoulys Chacin (11-9, 4.10)
Samardzija turned in another solid outing but settled for a no-decision after giving up two runs - one earned - in six innings against Milwaukee on Tuesday. The 32-year-old was 4-11 with a 5.05 ERA through July 21 but has gone 4-1 with a 3.43 ERA in his last six starts. Hector Sanchez is 6-for-12 with three homers against Samardzija, who is 7-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 15 career starts versus San Diego - including an 0-1 mark and 7.27 ERA in three outings this season.
Chacin is looking to bounce back after hitting four batters and allowing five runs - four earned - in 4 2/3 innings of an 11-9 loss to St. Louis on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Venezuelan was dealing with swelling in his pitching hand following the outing but expects to be fine for Monday. Denard Span is 7-for-18 against Chacin, who is 7-2 with a 1.86 ERA at Petco Park this season and has gone 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA in four starts versus the Giants this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants C Buster Posey and OF Hunter Pence were a combined 2-for-22 against Arizona over the weekend.
2. San Diego has gone 9-4 against San Francisco this season, including 4-2 at home.
3. San Francisco is 19-34 against the NL West and has dropped 12 of its last 15 divisional contests.
PREDICTION: Padres 5, Giants 4Comment
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Diamond Trends - Monday
August 28, 2017
TOP SU TREND:
-- The Braves are 10-0 since Jun 23, 2016 as a dog after they were shutout last game.
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TOP OU TREND:
-- The Orioles are 0-12 OU (-2.38 ppg) since Jul 22, 2016 at home coming off a game as a dog in which their starter worked less than eight innings and their bullpen did not allow a run.
TOP STARTER TREND:
-- The Orioles are 0-11 RUN LINE AGAINST since Aug 24, 2013 when Chris Tillman starts as a favorite after they lost in his each of his last two starts.
TOP CHOICE TREND:
-- The Red Sox are 0-10 since Jul 8, 2017 as a favorite when seeking same season revenge against their opponent’s starting pitcher.Comment
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Braves have lost their last 7 games at Citizens Bank Park in Philly.
Phillies have won 5 of Nola's last 7 home starts.
ATL +135 / PHI -145Comment
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Cubs 22-7 last 29 games after loss.
Pirates 0-6 last 6 Williams starts following QS in last outing & 1-4 last 5 vs lefties
PIT +150 / CHC -160Comment
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